What do those clouds mean?

Tuesday, 14 July 2009 13:40

We had a good, quiet night at Litherland - definitely worth mooring there on the return journey from Liverpool if you want to start off at reasonable time in the morning! We left at about 7.10 am and only took just over the hour to get to Netherton Swing Bridge (6) where the BW guys opened the bridge for us at about 8.30.

Looking back at Litherland sani-station from under Bridge 2I

Mural under Bridge 2I

The other two boats were ahead of us and had moored at Netherton (one of them overnight), but we were the second boat to go through as we were ready to go!

We travelled in a convoy to Hancock's Swing Bridge (9) where the BW guys once again opened it for us. Their duty to us done, they then had to go back to work the next lot of boats down Stanley Locks from Eldonian Basin and through the two new Liverpool docks locks. After that they would see the boats up the locks from Liverpool, leaving them to overnight, as we did.

Waiting for Hancock's Swing Bridge to open

After Hancock's we travelled in another convoy, leapfrogging each other as we got to the swing bridges. The leading boat opened the next bridge, the convoy passed and then on to the next bridge with the previous bridge openers to close it and bring up the rear!

This way the 3 boats each did two swing bridges as there were 6 in total in this section - Melling (1) and Maghull (4). The last one - Coxhead's Swing Bridge (20) is out in the countryside beyond Lydiate! They are a mixture of electric and manual bridges and they require a watermate key and a handcuff key. Some of the electrified ones have manual barriers and these are opened with the handcuff key.

Despite the suburbs, there are some lovely canal views along this section, particularly around Melling.

Coming up to Melling Stone Bridge (11)

View after Melling Stone Bridge

Maghull Church in the distance

We passed Nb Tickety Boo again, but all was quiet and no reaction to our hoot! There is one more swing bridge but we knew from our trip down that it is left open (Downholland Swing Bridge 21).

Nb Kowka was the first to moor, for lunch - outside the Ship pub just before Ship Bridge (22). We were next - back on the same mooring as we had been on our trip down just north of the Ship Bridge, but in the countryside. Nb Liverpool Lou continued on as they were making for Burscough and then Rufford.

We settled for lunch and the afternoon to catch up on emails, blog etc! Now this is finished, I have to make some bread, so the breeze that is gently blowing will be carrying the lovely smell of fresh bread to the wildlife!

My reference to clouds? The blue sky had streaky clouds, known as Cirrus and cotton wool clouds known as Cumulus. If they join, it can be a sign of rain. But we had sun most of the morning, no rain!

Hmm.. what has happened to the rain that was forecast!

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